PIERRE, S.D.—The South Dakota Rural Electric Association (SDREA) held its 83rd annual meeting Jan. 16-17 in Pierre with more than 300 electric cooperative leaders in attendance. Nearly 100 lawmakers took part in the association’s Legislative Dinner.
The theme of this year’s event, Connecting Communities, highlights the enduring mission of South Dakota’s electric cooperatives: bringing together ideas, resources, and innovation to power possibilities through reliable energy.
SDREA honored two Legacy of Leadership award recipients, Ken Wetz and Jerry Hammerquist. Wetz is a former CEO of Butte Electric Cooperative, lobbyist, and state legislator. Hammerquist helped shape electric cooperatives for nearly 40 years, having served as board president for West River Electric, chairman for Rushmore Electric and a director of SDREA.
This award highlights outstanding cooperative leaders who lend their talent, time, expertise and passion toward achieving success for their cooperatives and their service areas.
The meeting featured informative industry-related discussions and programs that covered a variety of topics, addressing key state and federal legislative issues, forecasting future energy needs, and highlighting the current political climate and lessons in member-focused leadership.
“On a national level, infrastructure is not being built fast enough to keep up with the rising demand of electricity,” said Don Heeren, SDREA’s board president, during his annual address.
He continued, “Policymakers and industry leaders must work together to ensure the expansion, interconnection and reliability of the bulk power system. SDREA looks forward to working with the incoming administration to safeguard a more reliable and affordable energy future for our members.”
SDREA General Manager Steve Barnett also addressed the need for reliable and affordable energy, adding that the 100th legislative session is a critical opportunity for SDREA to build new relationships with legislators and further its presence in the South Dakota State Capitol.
“Getting the energy supply back on track with demand will require an enormous effort, but I am confident that our cooperative network is up to the task,” Barnett said.
The challenges and opportunities that South Dakota’s electric cooperatives face in ensuring prosperity for co-op members and their communities were thoroughly discussed during the two-day event.
Later in the meeting, attendees heard virtual presentations from National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson as well as from Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds and Rep. Dusty Johnson. Sen. Rounds noted the importance of a reliable energy grid and domestic energy generation.
About South Dakota’s Electric Cooperatives – South Dakota’s electric cooperatives provide electricity to more than 126,000 homes, farms and businesses in the state, averaging only 2.5 consumers per mile of line. SDREA is a member-owned, member-controlled association of 31 electric cooperatives in South Dakota. SDREA is devoted to unifying, promoting and protecting the interests of member electric cooperatives in South Dakota by providing leadership, training, communication, legislative representation and other member services.